Determinants of successful diabetes self-management behaviors among women of Arab descent with Type 2 Diabetes.

Abstract

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) continues to be an escalating public health problem contributes to increased morbidity and mortality. Although the complications of T2D is a major threat to the health of women of Arab descent, there is lack of information about their health practices and diabetes self-management behaviors. The purpose is to examine the impact of diabetes knowledge, social/family support, acculturation, and diabetes-related emotional distress on DSM behaviors and glycemic control among women of Arab descent utilizing the Roy Adaptation Model. A non-experimental correlational descriptive design. The BMI, Diabetes knowledge, diabetes-related emotional distress, and the level of HbA1C explained 28% of the variance in DSM behaviors. DSM behaviors were negatively related to diabetes-related emotional distress. DSM behaviors were positively related to diabetes knowledge and HbA1C. The findings of this work provided a foundation for further advanced research design including experimental designs to expand the knowledge of this phenomenon and how to manage this disease successfully yet a culturally appropriate method.